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Take a look at platanium

With most—if not all—jewelry raw materials (gold, silver, gemstones, diamonds, etc.) coming from overseas, it is refreshing indeed to see a U.S. company develop a jewelry brand (platanium) that could, to some degree, take the place of foreign gold and/or silver.

As we know by now, platanium (not to be confused with the relatively expensive palladium), is a stainless steel alloy that doesn't scratch or tarnish, and is sold under the brand name Carved Creation.

With the roller coaster prices of gold and silver, rising diamond prices and question of genuine stone availability (phew), having a small U.S.-based company launch an innovative brand and concept is refreshing and worth looking at.

The company targets customers seeking to spend $200 on customized platanium jewelry (Carved Creation), but is now nicely diversified by marketing customized gold and silver jewelry at $400-$700. Its main distribution is via the Internet.

Like any small company launching an innovative brand in a crowded industry and in a struggling economy, Carved Creation faces obstacles galore. If the brand grows quickly, competitors (some better managed and capitalized) will also launch their own brand. As a niche brand, it is uncertain how much growth is available.

Nevertheless, I hope other firms take a chance and launch innovative jewelry products too.

Jan Brassem is a founder of Eclipse Global Consulting LLC, a firm that assists jewelry retailers who are expanding into foreign markets and/or sourcing globally. You can e-mail him at Jan@EclipseGlobalConsulting.com.

Keeping secrets

In covering fashion for National Jeweler, my e-mail inbox tends to be a revolving door of product images. Going through them, the real treat lies in coming across a product that I can't get my mind off of, something that stands out from the rest, whether for the beauty of its design or the sentiment that it might convey.

This Links of London pendant necklace (left) was that for me today. While I'm not so much one for pavé diamonds, I became captivated after finding out that the pendant holds a "secret chamber" to which the wearer can add small treasures.

The idea of personalized, sentimental pieces has been sticking with me lately, especially as we hear more and more about consumers forgoing non-necessity purchases such as jewelry. I'm certainly in the boat on that one, so lately the pieces I've been eyeing are ones that I can truly call my own and that will hold special meaning for me, like items that feature engravings, and lockets to which I can add photos.

The Links piece rings up at more than $50,000, so it's not much more than my aspirational dream. Plenty of designers though are creating options that are easier on the wallet. Lately I've been checking out tiny charms from Dogeared and vintage lockets from Jill Alberts.

Russell Brand waves the diamond flag

On display last night at the MTV Video Music Awards: a lucid Britney Spears, svelte Christina Aguilera and lots and lots of diamonds.

Despite bling on all ends of the stage, my eyes were on host Russell Brand, the British comedian who took a scene-stealing turn in this summer's Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

While his hosting skills might be debatable (urging kids to vote: very cool; poking fun at the Jonas brothers for wearing chastity rings: not so cool), his was the only jewelry that I openly remarked about.

Check out PopSugar for the full ensemble, and you’ll see a wrist load of bracelets, rings on both hands and a neck studded with pendants. OK, so maybe you don't want to take style tips from a guy with that hair, but at least he's got us talking, right?

Brand's skull pendants and diamond rings are from Loree Rodkin, a designer known for her medieval-style jewelry and a favorite of rockers such as Marilyn Manson and Avril Lavigne.

The jeweler and his education

I just got back from my business school class reunion. (My wife says she has no idea how I got through such a good school. Humph!)

From time to time, my university publishes studies on the career paths of its 149,323 graduates. A few have become CEOs, financial wizards, Web pioneers, millionaires (you get the idea), while others have carved out successful careers in building consumer-product companies such as cosmetics retailers, shoe manufacturers, high-end clothing importers, etc.

As a jewelry guy (I have been a jewelry manufacturer and a jewelry-brand importer), I naturally thumbed through the directory looking for graduates in the jewelry industry. To my surprise I found none—zero. I have no idea how many jewelry professionals graduated from other business schools. I assume few, if any.

With all the turbulence in our industry—bankruptcies, closings, operating losses, consolidations—the thought occurred to me: Would the industry be in better shape if the average education level of the jewelry executive had been higher? Would a higher education level have helped the industry meet (confront) the current economic woes? Graduate business school curriculums, of course, teach students how to deal with consumer-product business cycles.

Any thoughts?

Jan Brassem is a founder of Eclipse Global Consulting LLC, a firm that assists jewelry retailers who are expanding into foreign markets and/or sourcing globally. You can e-mail him at Jan@EclipseGlobalConsulting.com.